Odisha triple murder: Bhubana was an addict since childhood

Shiva Prasad Panda alias Bhubana, the lone accused in the triple murder in Bharatpur area of Odisha capital on January 27, was addicted to alcohol and drugs since childhood.

Police found out about Bhubana’s addiction while questioning him during his two-day remand period. He was forwarded to jail at the end of his remand period yesterday. Police blame his upbringing and social factors to be the cause of his addiction.

Bhubana’s maternal grandmother Shantilata had married again after the death of her first husband, even though she had three kids. Bhubana’s father went missing shortly after his marriage and his mother married again after his birth.

Financial trouble, coupled with the absence of attention, acceptance and love from his stepfather forced him to the streets instead of going to the school. Soon, he was into alcohol and other intoxicating substances. His only source of relief was his grandmother Shantilata. While he was growing up, Shantilata opted out of her second marriage and started living in the Bharatpur slum on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar.

It was in Bharatpur that he met his would be wife Sumi, who was the grandchild of Shantilata’s neighbor Chakradhar, and fell in love with her. They eloped together to marry without the consent of any of their relatives.

However, a few days into the marriage, Sumi committed suicide due to their financial trouble. Broken and desperate, Bhubana nursed a grudge against both his grandmother and Sumi’s grandparents who never helped her to get out of his financial worries.

He took to alcohol and other narcotics in even greater quantities and as suspected by police, committed the crime in an intoxicated state.

During the remand period, the police have also found land dispute to be the motive behind the gruesome murder of Shantilata, Chakradhar and Chakradhar’s wife Sukanti.

The police have seized the axe used as weapon of murder and have recreated the entire murder sequence after taking Bhubana to the place. This would help them build a water tight case in the court, police believe.